Material Preparation: How to assemble the wind turbine
Getting Started
Check out a video that demonstrates how to set up the wind turbine: Blowing in the Wind How To Video (be sure to scroll down to the correct video)
Check out a Powerpoint that helps explain important considerations when building a wind turbine blade. Click here.
Check out a Powerpoint that helps explain important considerations when building a wind turbine blade. Click here.
Part 1: Designing and Building
- Plan and sketch your wind turbine before you begin to build it. Use the following worksheet to guide the process: Wind Turbine Plan and Sketch
- Cut the glue sticks into approximately 2.5 cm long pieces.
- Place one end of the skewer into the straw.
- Place the pointed end of the skewer into the cut end of the glue stick.
- Design blades that can be attached to paperclip that has 1 straightened bend.
- Stick the end of the paperclip into the sides of the glue stick. Hint: You can use a push-pin to create a hole in the glue stick for the straightened paper clip.
- Cut string that is approximately 60 cm in length.
- Test out your design and do not continue until it works properly.
Part 2: Testing it Out
- Test your design. To do this, make 2 holes at the top rim of a paper cup, thread string through the cup and tie a knot in the center. The other end of the string will be taped to the end of the skewer. The string should be 30 cm long from the knot to where the string is taped to the skewer.
- First make sure that the turbine spins without a load by holding it by the straw in front of the fan.
- Then place the load objects (pennies) into the cup to see how many it can lift, and record results.
- How could you improve the design and make it better. Use the worksheet improving your design to help you plan a new blade design. Click here.
- Discuss team results.
How did you improve or redesign your blades?
Why did you decide to improve them this way?
Did your changes improve the design? How?